228 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



reached terra firma safely, when, releasing myself 

 from the cutting rope, I made my way to the sheep, 

 and discovered him, wonder of wonders, more or less 

 intact. Less as to body, more as regards horns. 

 After this bit of amazing luck nothing else mattered. 



Fitting the rope around the carcase I gave the word 

 to haul up. My shout was called from rock to rock 

 until all the air commanded. The heavy body dragged 

 over the shale surface, but I held the wondrous head 

 out of the way of harm until up and up he whirled, 

 sometimes coming in hideous contact with outstand- 

 ing rocks, sometimes catching on needle points, until 

 at last he was hauled to the surface safe and sound. I 

 could see Cecily's excitement from my depths below. 



My ladder to safety alighted at my very feet, and 

 the ascent proved a much easier business than the 

 swift coming down, or else it was that the thoughts 

 of my reward at the top made the fearsome journey 

 easier. 



The white sheep of Alaska, Ovis dalli, takes its 

 name from Professor Dall, who was one of Alaska's 

 earliest explorers. It has its habitat in very inac- 

 cessible fastnesses (unless in a region rarely hunted), 

 and has a wide radius, from within the Arctic circle 

 to the Liard River. White in the coat, every hair is 

 tipped as though slightly singed by fire, and in 

 summer the back takes on a darker shade. 



Always residing far above the timber line, beyond 

 man's footsteps, the stalking of this Ovis dalli tribe, 

 wary and agile as they are, makes excellent sport, and 

 calls into play every quality of finesse and endurance 



